The 22nd National Assembly's First Proposal to Repeal the 'Dantong Law'... Challenges Remain for Bipartisan Agreement

People Power Party's Park Chung-kwon and 10 Others Propose Repeal of 단통법
Democratic Party Calls for "Alternative Legislation Needed" Before General Election... Agreement Key
Discussion Expected to Be Delayed Due to Ruling and Opposition Conflict Over 'Broadcasting 3 Laws'

The repeal bill of the Device Distribution Improvement Act, which could not be settled in the 21st National Assembly, is expected to be discussed again in the 22nd National Assembly, initiated by the ruling party. However, there are many hurdles to overcome, such as reaching an agreement with the opposition party and preparing supplementary measures, and since conflicts surrounding the 'Broadcasting 3 Acts' pushed by the opposition party are currently ongoing, the discussions are expected to face difficulties.

On the 7th, when the government approved the partial amendment of the "Enforcement Decree of the Act on the Improvement of Distribution Structure of Mobile Communication Terminal Devices (Terminal Distribution Act)" at the Cabinet meeting, a banner related to mobile phone discounts was hung at a mobile phone store in Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

According to the National Assembly on the 13th, the repeal bill of the Act on the Improvement of Distribution Structure of Mobile Communication Devices (hereinafter referred to as the Device Distribution Improvement Act) was first proposed in the 22nd National Assembly. On the 3rd, 10 members of the People Power Party, including Representative Park Chung-kwon, stated the reason for the proposal: "Due to the Device Distribution Improvement Act, issues such as the reduction of user subsidies and deterioration of welfare have occurred, so it is desirable to leave only the provisions directly related to the original regulatory targets?telecommunication business and user welfare improvement?and integrate them with the Telecommunications Business Act."

This proposal has opened the foundation for discussing the repeal of the Device Distribution Improvement Act in the 22nd National Assembly as well. Since President Yoon Suk-yeol declared his intention to push for the repeal of the Device Distribution Improvement Act in January, related bills have been proposed, but the 21st National Assembly ended as the full meeting of the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee was canceled on the 21st of last month.

However, due to disagreements over the preparation of supplementary measures, it is expected to take time for the ruling and opposition parties to reach an agreement. The Democratic Party presented a pledge before the general election, stating, "No substitute legislation has been submitted following the declaration of the repeal of the Device Distribution Improvement Act," and pledged to prepare legislation related to the improvement of the device distribution structure. At that time, Ahn Jeong-sang, a senior expert on broadcasting, media, and information communication at the Democratic Party Policy Committee and adjunct professor at Chung-Ang University Graduate School of Communication, pointed out, "It is the same bill as before," adding, "If the structure where manufacturers only supply devices to telecom companies and the telecom companies sell them as they please is not improved, the consumer's price burden will remain the same."

Park Dae-chul, Chairman of the Fair Media Special Committee of the People Power Party, is speaking at the joint meeting held on the 10th at the National Assembly to block the Democratic Party-Minnochoong's 'Broadcasting Control 3 Acts'. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Legislative and policy experts also emphasize the need for supplementation. The '22nd National Assembly Legislative Policy Guidebook' published by the National Assembly Legislative Research Office on the 30th of last month presented tasks such as ▲strengthening post-regulation for consumer protection following the repeal of the Device Distribution Improvement Act ▲seeking management measures for distribution stores and manufacturers not subject to regulation under the Telecommunications Business Act ▲analyzing the impact on MVNO operators and small distribution stores. Park So-young, a researcher at the National Assembly Legislative Research Office, said, "The bill should be prepared to cover parts that may be omitted, such as manufacturer regulation, in the process of merging the Device Distribution Improvement Act and the Telecommunications Business Act," adding, "It is necessary to reflect the impact on MVNO operators and small distribution stores in the legislative direction."

It has become a foregone conclusion that discussions will be deprioritized due to conflicts caused by other bills within the Science, Technology, Information and Broadcasting Committee. On the same day, the Democratic Party adopted the Broadcasting 3 Acts (Broadcasting Act, Broadcasting Culture Promotion Act, Korea Educational Broadcasting System Act amendments) and the amendment to the Korea Communications Commission Act, which stipulates the quorum for the KCC's resolution as four or more members, as the party's official stance. Earlier, on the 10th, the People Power Party held a joint meeting opposing the promotion of the Broadcasting 3 Acts.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.